Church in the Kittiwake

Ad Clerum – 17 October 2024

Dear sisters and brothers in Christ,

As Parliament prepares to debate assisted suicide towards the end of next month, I wanted to reach

out to share my thoughts on the matter. I know that this topic is hugely emotive. As the media turn

their attention to conversations in Westminster we will naturally find our memories turning to the

time we’ve spent with loved ones in their final weeks, days and moments. I know the topic has

already received significant media attention and I wanted to emphasise that if I or my senior

colleagues more broadly can offer pastoral support to you around this and related issues, please do

be in touch.

Not all of us in the Diocese of Newcastle will agree on this matter. As a society we talk about death

so little and it would be natural if you are still weighing this issue. Personally, as I’ve reflected on my

own experience of sitting with those who are dying, as I’ve listened to medical and legal experts

and weighed the international evidence particularly my experience of participating in a similar

debate in New Zealand, I have found myself deeply concerned by the move to legalise assisted

suicide. Such concern echoes the General Synod of The Church of England which has twice voted,

with a significant majority, against the legalisation of assisted suicide (2012 and 2022). This

opposition has always been grounded in a concern for the welfare of the most vulnerable in society,

for the widow, the orphan, and the stranger – for the elderly, those living in poverty, those whose

disability puts them at risk, and those in coercive relationships. Moreover, for such a monumental

societal change, a Private Member’s Bill is not (in my view) the appropriate mechanism. PMBs unlike

Government Bills are not afforded the same amount of parliamentary time and process. It is clear

that issues around Assisted Suicide are complex and nuanced and require exceptionally careful

consideration. I would further wish to see fulsome discussion around palliative and social care and

ending the great inequality of access to such services that we see in many of our communities.

Please do talk about these issues, read about them and, of course, pray about all of this. I have

included a list of potential resources below. If you find yourself, like me, moved to concern, please

do write to your MP expressing your thoughts.

Regardless of where your deliberation takes you, know that I am praying for you: praying that as

you consider what it means to minister to the sick and to prepare the dying for their death, you

would better know the God who accompanies us through death and into new life.

With my respect and love,

+Helen-Ann Newcastle

October 2024

Further Resources

A Guide to Terminology

1. David Albert Jones, Defining the Terms of the Debate

Overviews of assisted suicide:

1. Anscombe Centre for Bioethics

2. Care Not Killing

3. Living and Dying Well

Podcasts

1. Lydia Dugdale, The Lost Art of Dying

2. Brian Brock, Theology, Euthanasia and Autism

Further theological reflection

1. John Swinton and Richard Payne, Living Well and Dying Faithfully (here)

2. John Wyatt, Dying Well (here)